Top JeM terrorist commander killed in J&K's Pulwama

A top commander of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday.

Reports said the gun battle erupted after a joint team of army's 42-Rashtriya Rifles, paramilitary CRPF and J&K police launched a cordon and search operation in Tilwani Mohalla, Wagad in Tral.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight, reports added.

J&K police in a tweet said that a commander of the JeM had been killed in the encounter so far. "Top JeM Commander Sham Sofi killed in Tral #Encounter: IGP Kashmir,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

Sources said 45-year-old Sofi was active since 2019 and was instrumental in reviving the JeM in the area.

Violence has witnessed a spurt in Jammu and Kashmir in recent days. On Tuesday five militants affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in two separate encounters in the neighboring Shopian district.

Earlier, on Monday two militants were killed in separate encounters in Bandipora and Anantnag districts of Kashmir. As many as five army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed during a counter-terrorist operation in border Poonch district of Jammu region on Monday.

Last week seven civilians, including four from minority community, were killed by militants in separate incidents in Kashmir.

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